Dischidia Nummularia - Teak And Terracotta

Dischidia Nummularia is a bit of a tricky one, the key to care for it is to remember it grows on trees in the wild and not in soil, it does not like normal potting compost or be water logged at all…

Dischidia Nummularia Care Summary

Light needs:	They like dappled filtered sunlight. Indirect sunlight is ok with some direct in the morning or afternoon.
Watering needs:	Water them once a week.
Fertilizer:	Not necessary.
Soil:	Use an orchid bark mix.
Humidity:	60% or more. They like to be humid.
Temperature:	15-30°C (59-86°F) Don’t let these plants get down to below 5°C as cold can damage them.
Where to buy:	Try our list of Rare Plant Shops.
Common issues:	Remember this is an epiphyte that grows on trees in the wild, they do not like soil So root rot is a common issue, do not let the plant sit in normal soil.

Introduction

Welcome to our guide to dischidia nummularia. Dragon Jade and String Of Nickels are both types of d. nummularia. They are epiphytes which mean they naturally grow on trees in the wild. They have some special care needs compared to other houseplants as they do not like to sit in soil.

String of nickels is the more popular one but there is a newer mutation of it… Dragon Jade aka dischidia ‘bubbles’ aka pangolin kisses (Latin name Dischidia Nummularifolia “Ideaminubu”) which is becoming increasingly in demand, although still quite rare, they are amazing looking plants.

Tip: we recommend Etsy for buying plants. Look for the best rated seller you can, and try to buy as close to your home as possible so the plant does not travel too far.

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Light Needs

Ideally Dischidia Nummularia like dappled filtered sunlight. Indirect sunlight is ok with some direct in the morning or afternoon.

How Often to Water

You can mist epiphytes every other day to give them the moisture they need. Or water them once a week. Just be sure that they do not sit in water at all or they will very likely die. They are not used to sitting in wet soil at all.

Tip: always check the soil before watering and make sure it is dry. It is especially important to do this when the weather gets colder as the plant uses much less water, and so it is easy to over water them. Make sure the soil is dry first.

Fertilizer

You do not need to fertilize these epiphytic plants.

Soil

Use an orchid bark mix. Epiphytes like this do not grow in soil in the wild, they grow on trees, so try to reproduce this by using orchid bark, they will not do well in normal soil. I know I’m sounding like a broken record here(!), but the key to healthy epiphytes is the mix they sit in.

When To Repot

Repot your d nummularia once a year in spring. The change of potting mix will do them good.

Humidity

Dragon Jade and String Of Nickels like to be humid, 60% or more. Mist them a few times a week if you cannot keep it at that level in the room.

Temperature

Don’t let them get down to below 5°C as cold can damage these plants.

Dischidia Nummularia Propagation

You can propagate Dischidia Nummularia by taking cuttings and rooting them on wet sphagnum moss for a month or so. There are a number of ways to root them but they do really well in moss, you can keep the container closed but for a couple of small holes and the humidity will help the cuttings root. You can root a lot of cuttings in on box too, take a stem off and cut between each set of leaves so you can a lot of small cuttings. Once rooted after a month or two you can pot them on into their own container.

Dischidia Nummularia Flower

They have small white flowers the grow between the leaves.

Is It Toxic To Cats?

They are not toxic to cats if eaten, and can cause vomiting and numbness. So seek vets advice immediately if your pet eats any.

Dischidia Nummularia USDA Zone

They can live outdoors in zones 10 to 11.

Where To Buy A Dischidia Nummularia

Dragon Jade and String Of Nickels can be bought in Rare Plant Shops occasionally when they crop up.

Dischidia Nummularia FAQs and Common Problems

Common problems are root rot – do not let the plant sit in normal soil. They must drain well. If the plant looks soggy or gets darker patches on it then it is likely over watered. This is definitely a plant to underwater rather than overwater.

Losing leaves

If your string of nickels is losing leaves, check for over or underwatering. If the leaves are drooping it could be that the plants is over watered. If they are small and shriveled then it is most likely underwatering, give the plant a good soaking.